Univision snubbed for Obama Syria interview

9/9/13 2:51 PM EDT

President Barack Obama is sitting down with six networks tonight - NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN, and Fox News - to try and sell the public on a military response to Syria’s alleged chemical weapons use. But one network has been left out - Univision.

Jose Zamora, a spokesperson for Univision, told us the network "did everything possible" to get an interview when the opportunity was announced, but were unsuccessful.

"We think it’s a very important story for us and most importantly for our audience. The Hispanic community is a big part of the U.S. and it continues to grow and are interested in everything that happens in this country and about the impact decisions like these have for them and their families," Zamora said.

Zamora said there are many Hispanics serving in the military whose families would want to know about a possible military intervention and how it would affect their lives.

"There are many U.S. Hispanics who have gone to other countries as soldiers when there are wars, so it does have an impact on our communities. So we would like to give them that information," Zamora said. "It is a very important story, we would definitely like to be able to tell them and have access to tell them everything that the president is thinking in regards to Syria."

Jorge Ramos, an anchor for Univision tweeted his displeasure:

Pres. Obama gives 6 interviews today. None of those to Univision. Why? Hispanics also care about Syria. Same mistake as presidential debates

One possible reason for avoiding the Hispanic networks, is that the attention on Syria is taking the focus off of immigration reform. On Univision's Sunday show "Al Punto," the first question to Rep. Raul Labrador was on how he would vote on Syria, but was quickly followed up by a question on how the situation in Syria would affect a possible reform bill.

"I believe that yes, we have the situation in Syria, we have the budget situation, we have the debt ceiling...all of these are advancing issues that we need to deal with now and immediately. So unfortunately, I think this will likely slow down the debate on immigration," Labrador said on Sunday, adding that if immigration doesn't move in 2013, it won't be debated in the House until 2015.

The last time Obama was interviewed on Univision was in July to talk about immigration reform.